The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-26

"I will come this evening" said he, ''after dark, to take away the body. As you know, people are so funny ! Seeing me would be enough to set them gossiping."
 He returned, as he had promised, at eight o'clock. X long cloak hung from his shoulders to his heels. Ger trude uttered cry and clasped her hands together, when he drew from under the mantle an oblong poplar box of the same shape and size as violin case.
 A coffin! A real coffinl Oh, Mon- sieur Gregoire, you are really too kind w Sa-w
 sFor ones friends" replied the bea- dle, with his most unctuous smile, "one can't do too much. Besides, you know the proverb," added he, as he pointed to the rigid body: The friends of our friends are our friends ?"
 Half an hour later, Monsieur Gre goire went off with step of becom- ing gravity, bearing under his arm the mournful burden confided to his pious care.
 And you say you found it in field near the hospital?"
 'Near the military hospital; yes, corporal"
 "In clearing up the field?"
 ''In clearing it up."
 "With your plow?"
 "With my plow."
 "That's peculiar
 Corporal Poireau stopped writing to scratch his nose with the point of his pencil.
 "It is very e-cu-i-ar, "repeated he, drawing the word out to its full length "I shall refer the matter to my ranking oflicer!"
 And the corporal referred the mat ter to his ensign, who advised his lieu tenant. The latter informed his cap tain who notified the colonel, so that, half an hour later, all the geada,merie of Briqueville was on foot.
 Captain" said the colonel, "you must go to the public prosecutor and inform him of what is going on!"
 "Very well, coloneln'
 The captain started off, left foot foremost, closely followed by our friend the corporal, who, all the way kept muttering to himself, "Decid- edly this is very peculiar case"
 An hour later, detachment of po- lice was stationed at distance of about one hundred metres from the military hospital, at the top of the hill from which may be seen the whole of Briqueville with it's short, straight streets, and, at q distance, the harbor with it's forest of masts, surrounding countless fishing boats. "..,
 Near the detachment, the colonel and the prosecutor were conferring together, while, at respectful dis tance, the laborer, the first cause of all this emotion, stood twirling his greasy hat, awaiting to be questioned.
 All at once the attorney turned to him.
 ESQ.," asked he, "you say that until now this field has not been culti- vated?"
 "Why, yes, and the best proof is that was hired to break the ground"
 "So that a criminal might have come here and have buried the proof of his crime with firm hope that it would never be discovered?"
 "That might be possible"
 "Well, first we must see for our selves. Lead us to the spot where you made the discovery"
 The peasant obeyed and walked about fifty steps. He was followed by the public prosecutor, the colonel and the detachment of police. Reach ing the spot where his blow still stood in the furrow, he pointed to the earth at box of white wood slightly disjointed by the dampness, and in the side of which the plowshare had made hole.
 The public prosecutor stopped and closely examined the object.
 "There is no possible doubt" said he as he resumed an erect position. "See for yourself, colonel: it is really coffin."
 "A child's coffin," added the col onel.
 "It is strange, very strange" con- tinued the public prosecutor, shaking his head. Ut is evident thrt we hold the clew of the crime. Colonel, please order the thing to be taken up with the greatest care. There is noth- ing more to do now until our return to town"
 The colonel said few words to cor poral Poireau, who leaned over the gaping pit and gently took up the mysterious box, muttering to himself: "All this is beginning to look very peculiar"
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